By Bob Currie, Recreational Boating Safety Specialist
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Station Galveston Flotilla
Before we get to the main event, here is an important public service announcement: Effective April 20, 2022, you must make sure that you have the new classification of fire extinguisher aboard. The Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label must say “Marine Type – USCG Approved.” In addition, it must not be expired (over 12 years from date of manufacture), the gauge must be in the green, and the nozzle must be clear of debris. The year of manufacture may be found either on the bottom of the fire extinguisher or on the Underwriters Laboratory UL label.

The Station Galveston Flotilla of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary operates out of the USCG Station Galveston base on Galveston Island. They aid the Coast Guard by providing maritime observation patrols in Galveston Bay; by providing recreational boating vessel safety checks; and by working alongside Coast Guard members in maritime accident investigation, small boat training, providing a safety zone, Aids to Navigation verification, cooking in the galley, on the Coast Guard Drone Team and watch standing.

The possibility of a fire on a boat, whether it is dockside or underway, can never be completely eliminated and is always a threat. Many recreational boaters meet the minimum requirements of having a fire extinguisher on their boat but give no thoughts to prevention or to fighting a fire. This column will borrow heavily from the US Coast Guard Boat Crew Operations Manual, under which I trained and was qualified as a boat crew member. A recreational boat captain can decrease the chances of having a boat fire casualty by taking some simple precautions, by knowing the types of fires that may occur on a boat, by knowing how to prevent or fight each type of fire, and by knowing when it is time to abandon ship and save those on board.

Priority One: Save People
A boat captain’s primary responsibility when there is a boat fire is saving lives, not property. A small fire may be extinguished with the fire extinguishers carried aboard, but if the fire develops into a large fire, the fire extinguisher’s purpose changes from extinguishing the fire to buying those aboard the time to safely abandon the vessel and hopefully get off a distress signal. The goal is to never have a boat fire, and fire prevention is the key to successfully meeting that goal.

Fire Prevention
To avoid fire, the single most important consideration is prevention. During boat and equipment checks, all systems must be inspected including the fuel, oil system, and wiring. Check for abrasions, cracked wiring, loose connections, or pinholes in oil and fuel lines. Any discrepancy must be corrected at the time it is discovered. The following are also good fire prevention measures for you to practice:

• Keep oil and grease out of bilges.
• Identify and correct any sources of fuel or oil leaks.
• Clean up any spilled fuel or lube oil immediately and properly dispose of it ashore.
• Stow cleaning materials off the boat.
• Keep all areas free of waste material.
• Use proper containers for flammable liquids.
• Be alert for suspicious odors and fumes and vent all spaces thoroughly before starting engine(s).

Sources of Fire on a Boat: Spontaneous Ignition
Yes, spontaneous ignition is a real thing. This source of fire is often overlooked as a cause of fire aboard a boat. Spontaneous ignition can easily occur aboard a boat if an oily or paint-soaked rag is left in the bilge or engine room. When an area is warm and there is no ventilation, an oily rag can begin to oxidize (react chemically with oxygen in the warm air around it). That oxidation produces heat, and if enough heat is produced then the rag will burst into flames. Ventilation will not remove heat, so the solution is good housekeeping- remove cleaning rags and waste. Whenever we perform vessel safety checks we always check to see that the vessel has a clean bilge or engine room.

Engine Room Fires
Engine rooms are particularly vulnerable to electrical, fuel, and oil fires. There are several ways that engine room fires can readily start. Water spraying from ruptured seawater lines can cause severe short-circuiting and arcing in electric motors (alternators), electrical panels, and other exposed electrical equipment. This, in turn, can ignite insulation and nearby combustible materials. Even more serious than leaking seawater lines are ruptured fuel and oil lines near electrical equipment. Causes of engine room fires include:

• Electrical System: The electrical system can short and cause a fire. These fires are typically small and easily controlled with either carbon dioxide (CO2) or dry chemical extinguishers. An important step is to remove the ignition source- that is, turn off the power to the electrical system by disconnecting the battery. Otherwise, the fire will reignite.
• Fuel Line: If fittings leak, fuel can drip onto a hot manifold and ignite. This situation could continue unnoticed for some time, allowing a major fire to develop when a manifold finally gets hot enough to ignite all leaked fuel.
• Lube Oil Line: This line, if leaking or ruptured, will allow lube oil to spill onto a hot engine. As the burning lube oil collects on and around an engine, the engine’s fuel supply line would probably be burned through. This would provide a fire with a continuous fuel supply, even after engines have been shut down. Fuel continuing to spill into the bilges, fires can spread and block access to the engine compartment, eventually leading to the development of a major fire.

Fire Theory
Fire is a chemical reaction known as combustion. It is defined as a state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame. A theory has been developed to explain fire combustion and extinguishment. This theory can be represented by a four-sided geometric figure called a tetrahedron. The base of this figure represents a chemical reaction. The three standing sides of the figure represent heat, oxygen, and fuel. Removing one or more of the four sides will make a tetrahedron incomplete and cause a fire to be extinguished.

Classification of Fires and Fuel Sources
The following are the four classes of fires:

• Class A: A Class A fire involves common combustible materials. Fuel sources within this class include wood and wood-based materials, cloth, paper, rubber, and certain plastics. One way to remember this class is to think Class A = Ash. The combustible materials in this category will commonly leave an ash residue.
• Class B: A Class B fire involves flammable or combustible liquids, flammable gases, greases, and similar products. Fuel sources within this class include petroleum products. Think Class B = Boil. The combustible materials in this category will boil when heat is applied.
• Class C: A Class C fire involves energized electrical equipment, conductors, or appliances. Think Class C = Current.
• Class D: A Class D fire involves combustible metals. Fuel sources within this class include sodium, potassium, magnesium, and titanium.

Fighting a Fire Onboard Your Own Boat
This discussion will only include recommendations for fighting a fire onboard your own boat. It is not recommended that recreational boaters try to fight fires on boats other than their own boat that they are onboard. When you become aware of a fire onboard, use the following procedure:

1. Immediately turn off the engine.
2. Station your passengers away from the source of the fire.
3. Make sure everyone on board is wearing a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
4. Use your fire extinguisher to put out the blaze.

Use the P.A.S.S. Method

1. Pull the fire extinguisher pin
2. Aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire
3. Squeeze the fire extinguisher handle
4. Sweep the fire by spraying from side to side

If you are unable to successfully extinguish the fire, put in a distress call to the Coast Guard on your marine radio and prepare to abandon your vessel if necessary.

Emergency Radio Call Procedures

1. Make sure the radio is on
2. On DSC radios, lift the cover and press Distress” button for 5 seconds and release
3. Verify radio has switched to Channel 16 and go to step 5
4. On non-DSC radios, change to channel 16
5. Press and hold transmit button
6. Clearly say “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”
7. Also transmit the following information while still holding the transmit button:
   • Vessel Name and/or Description
   • Position and/or location
   • Nature of emergency
   • Number of people on board
8. Release the transmit button
9. Wait 30 seconds – if no response, repeat the MAYDAY call

Summary
Boat fires can be a deadly experience. As a recreational boater your best option is preventing fires by keeping your boat well-maintained and clean, paying special attention to your bilge and engine room. If you have a kitchen powered by propane, consider converting to an all-electric galley. Propane systems also cause carbon monoxide (CO) deaths. Always keep Coast Guard-approved fire extinguishers aboard and let all of your passengers know where they are located.

For more information on boating safety, please visit the Official Website of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division at www.uscgboating.org. Questions about the US Coast Guard Auxiliary or our free Vessel Safety Check program may be directed to me at [email protected]. SAFE BOATING!

[Jan-18-2022]